Saffron is actually the crimson stigmas of the Saffron flower . Saffron crocus Bulbs are planted in fertile lands and these bulbs produce flowers only after one year . It is grown on plateaus ( Known as Wudar in Kashmiri ) near Pampore town in Kashmir Valley . Experiments were also carried out at other places for saffron production but the results were not satisfying . Subsequently, the people in other areas preferred other crops especially fruits over saffron.Each flower produces only three 3 stigmas and each saffron crocus bulb will only produce 1 flower. Flowers plucked are then dried and the stigmas removed .

Sold at Rs150- 170 per gram currently , the price of this rare agricultural produce skyrocketed to Rs500 per gram some time back . The saffron produced in Kashmir has excellent aroma and colour .It is known world over for its purity and quality . Used mostly as a coloring agent for foodstuff , it is also used as medicine , spice and in temples and religious ceremonies by Hindus . Kashmiris also use it for making KEHWA TEA know as KONG KAHWAA.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

This is how timber is stocked( in open ) in kashmir .We call it Zien Bunna in kashmiri . This photograph was taken by me near sumbal sonawari....To this photo i add some lines from a Gazal of poet Amjad Islam Amjd
Bhatkey huve phirtey Hain Kayee lafz jo Dil mein
Duniyaa ne Diyaa Waqt To Likheinge kissi din

Saturday, October 15, 2011

I have always said that
Saadat Hassan Manto’s Character Saugandhi ( created by him for his story HATAK)
brings simultaneous hatred and sympathy in hearts of millions of MANTO readers
. Till this society exists Saugandhi shall exist . Manto's pen has immortalized this Character . Poets like Shaharyaar ( Gyan
Peeth Awardee ) Balraj Komal, Kumar Paashi, Sarmad Sehbayee and many more writers have commented or
written poems on this character .Manto has given total freedom to this
Character to evolve itself and then attack the very society that created it.I
treat Saugandhi's dog as an
important character in Manto's story
HATAK. Manto calls it Khaarish-Zadaa kutta that sleeps in her filthy room. When Saugandhi attacks
and throws out Madho ( Her Exploiter ) from her room , this dog too joins and
helps her by barking and attacking Madho. Manto was subjected to harsh
criticism for this Character . To his
critics Manto said

“If you are Ignorant about
existing time or the period that we live in then read my stories . If you do
not tolerate my stories then this period is certainly beyond toleration. The
bad things that exist in me have come to me from this period alone .There is no
defect in my scripts .The defect that is attributed to me is possibly a system
defect .Trust me I am not a trouble creator .I do not want to create fatality
in thought process or emotions of people. How can a poor man like me undress
this society or its culture and the tradition ? Isn’t this society already
naked ? yes, I also do not make an effort to dress it and cover its nakedness
as that is not my job. Many readers call me a writer with black ink. Surely I
do not use black ink to write on black boards . I use white ink to write on
black background so that every thing emerges more distinctly .This is my
special style. I do not know what it is and I know that some people call it
Progressive and some call it rubbish . God alone knows the labels that are
given to my writings. Hell be the place for this Manto for he can not be even
cursed properly by people . ”

Manto

“ If there is no god then none can keep count
of innumerable sufferings and pains of Saugandhi except Manto . In fact Manto
has repaid a Debt to Humanity at large by writing her story .”

Waris Alvi

I also add lines from a poem of Noted urdu poet shaharyaar
titled saugandhi

"Badhee bhari Yeh
Bohriyaan,

Na jaane kaun Morh tak,

Hamaare saath jaayeingi
……………

Teri gali Mein har taraf

Se Aa rahein Hain Bhediye ,

Havaa bharaa Woh Chaand

Saat Inch neeche aa gayaa ,

Gizaa milegi Chyoontiyon Ko

Tera kaam ho gayaa ,

Hamaare naakhoonon Ki Maeil
Se,

Tere Badan ke ghaav Bhar
gaye ,

Yeh haadisaa bhi Ho Gayaa .

Magar Kahaan Se beech mein
Yeh Aasmaan Aa Gayaa"

( Shaharyaar )

Kumar Paashi also wrote a
poem on Saugandhi I quote some lines

“ Ikk mausam mere Dil ke
andher ,

Ikk mausam mere Baahar ,

Ikk rastaa mere peechhe
Bhaage ,

Ikk Rastaa Mere aage

Rastey beech me khadee
akeli ,

Piyaa na sang saheli ,

Kyaa jaane mujh janam jalee
ne ,

Kyaa apraadh kiyaa hai ,

Aakhir kyon Duniyaa kaa
maine saara zehar Piya hai ,

Saari Umar na jaane kaise
apney badhan mein Kisse Jiyaa hai ,

Mere saath zamaane tuune

Achhaa nahin kiyaa hai ”

(Kumar Paashi )

Saugandhi the Bad woman .
Saugandhi the kind and tender hearted
woman. Saugandhi the exploited . Saugandhi the lonely woman .
Saugandhi the woman who has gone too far in her dull and aimless
life that she has lost the distinction between Man and Dog. And a
different Saugandhi who finally spits venom and fire when she throws out her exploiter Madho. I propose to put up a detailed write up on
this character shortly.